Install the cabinets first because heavy cabinetry cannot sit on top of a floating floor or it will restrict movement and increase the chances of flooring separation.
Lay wood floor under kitchen cabinets.
If there s something in your path when you re laying wood flooring including a cabinet you have to move it if you want to get the flooring underneath.
This is more common with solid 3 4 inch floors opposed to thinner hardwoods.
Mark the layout of the cabinets and all floor based appliances.
Why it s better to install the hardwood floors before the cabinets.
Often without planning these appliances can get locked in when the hardwood guy is done installing the floor.
You would not want your dishwasher to be trapped underneath the floor and.
An underlayment adds another 1 4 inch to 1 2 inch to the total flooring thickness.
Laminate flooring is a floating floor so we do not recommend installing kitchen cabinets on top of laminate as they could pin the floor down and prevent it from expanding and contracting with temperature changes leading to buckling and separation at the joints.
This is especially true if you have a kitchen island with cabinets.
It would be a shame for you or the future owner to want to change the kitchen footprint and need to replace all of the flooring in the areas where you did not install it.
It may be tempting to just work around your stove or refrigerator since the floor under these never sees the light of day anyway but doing so can cause problems down the road when you cannot move the appliance over the hardwood lip install an appliance with different dimensions.
How to install floating flooring in kitchens.
Install tile under cabinets and floor based appliances with a 2 inset this allows you to move the pattern and grout lines where needed.
Go ahead and install your kitchen cabinets directly on the cement subfloor.
Install plywood in remaining area to exact height of tile floor to finish cabinet install.
Lay the finish flooring straight onto the subfloor with no additional underlayment.
Floating floors come in a variety of materials such as engineered hardwood or cork but not all are suitable for a kitchen floor installation.
Use engineered wood flooring rather than solid hardwood.
It looks the best.
How to install wood floors under cabinets.
Engineered wood a sandwich of wood veneer on top and high grade plywood below is slightly thinner than solid hardwood.
Hardwood flooring can last for decades if not centuries with the right upkeep.
One way to combat a potential locked in appliance dilemma is by installing plywood same thickness as flooring in the area under the dishwasher.